Max and Cherry, before dinner
She reached for his hand and squeezed it tight with one of her own, grinning at the way her heart felt like it could burst with thankfulness for Max. "Maybe let's save the money for when I do get in somewhere, so we know it's not wasted. But -- a portfolio would be amazing, especially since I'm sure once they see I'm applying from Austin, they'll think I'm totally backwards." Dani had alluded to receiving such attitudes once she'd started school in Denver, back in January.
Max frowned; he’d never considered the idea that people from outside their city might not think favorably on the citizens of Austin. He bristled at the idea that some dean at a college in Chicago or wherever might think Cherry was some backwoods dummy for living in the once totalitarian regime-run town.
“Well, then, I can’t wait for you to prove those high-minded jerkbutts wrong,” he stated resolutely. There was no question in his mind that Cherry, and her large, impressive body of work, would blow the acceptance board away but if Max could help in any way, he’d do whatever he could. “So, we’ll hold off on the campus visits for now and double down on the application portfolio. Show Chicago what they’ve been missing and what they could gain in accepting Charisse Chan into their program.”
"You're too much," Cherry protested, but there was a flush of obvious appreciation on her face all the same. She leaned in to kiss his cheek, then the corner of his mouth, then his lips, reaching to cup his jawline with her hand and pull him closer to her. "Thank you," she said, leaning her forehead briefly against his. "For being so supportive, and so wonderful… I don't know what I'd do without you."
Even as he smiled at his girlfriend approvingly, Max felt his heartstrings tug at the thought of her being so far away for such a long time. He didn’t want to make her feel guilty about pursuing her dreams, or make her question her decision to study away from Austin, but Max knew making it work long distance with Cherry would be hard. Still, he knew it was something he would need to get used to and make his peace with. Cherry was worth it. What they had was worth it.